Seif: SIG Strives to Maintain State Institutions in Liberated Areas

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif said that the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) has implemented important public service projects in the liberated areas despite the scarcity of resources. Seif called on donor states to step up support for SIG so as to enable it to preserve state institutions and ensure the continuation of their work.

Seif was speaking during a meeting with representatives of donor countries in SIG’s office in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on Thursday. SIG’s head Jawad Abu Hatab and a number of ministers, heads of provincial councils and directorates, officials of Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU), and representative of civil society organizations participated in the meeting.

Seif said that SIG has made “great achievements” despite the scarcity of resources, noting that it will “achieve more thanks to the efforts of workers if it receives the necessary material support.”

Seif pointed out that securing support for SIG is high on the Coalition’s list of priorities. Supporting SIG is crucial to preserving state institutions in the liberated areas and to ensure continuity in administrative systems and ways of life, he added.

Abu Hatab pointed out that SIG represents all components of the Syrian people. “SIG ministers are working on Syrian territory alongside staff worker. SIG ministries have their own administrative structures supported by all components of the Syrian people in the liberated areas.”

“SIG has accepted this difficult, challenging task to create a democratic system based on transparency to counterbalance extremist and separatist projects as well as to ensure equal opportunities for women and men and for people from all denominations in Syria,” Abu Hatab said. He went on to say that SIG is seeking to boost coordination among all the opposition institutions.

At the end of the meeting, EU representatives commended SIG work in the liberated areas, noting that such efforts primarily benefit the civilian population in those areas.